IND vs NZ: Virat Kohli’s record in ODI series decider

A deep dive into Virat Kohli’s performances in high-pressure ODI series deciders ahead of India’s must-win clash against New Zealand.

When it comes to high-pressure situations in international cricket, few names inspire as much confidence as Virat Kohli. Over the years, Team India has found itself in several ODI series deciders.

Kohli’s record in this aspect as well, highlights why he is regarded as one of the greatest batters of the modern era. With India set to play yet another ODI series decider, fans and experts alike are keen to revisit Kohli’s numbers in these crucial encounters.

Virat Kohli has featured in 15 ODI bilateral series deciders since making his debut, scoring a total of 660 runs at an impressive average of 47.14. These numbers underline his ability to rise to the occasion when the stakes are highest.

He has crossed the 50-run mark on seven occasions and has remained not out once, showing both consistency and composure under pressure. Virat’s journey in ODI series deciders began during India’s 2011 tour of South Africa and has continued across more than a decade of elite international cricket.

Virat Kohli’s record in ODI series decider

Kohli’s early outings in ODI series deciders were far from ideal. In his first four such matches between 2011 and 2013, he managed just 28 runs. This included a duck in the memorable 2013 Bengaluru decider against Australia. However, this phase proved to be a learning curve.

Hereafter, Kohli transformed his approach in crunch games, producing match-defining performances when it mattered most. Between 2011 and 2019, Kohli truly stamped his authority in ODI series deciders.

Across the next four deciders, he amassed 295 runs, highlighted by his only century in such matches. That iconic hundred came against New Zealand in the third ODI at Kanpur in 2017, where his 113 powered India to a 2-1 series win. This knock remains one of his most significant contributions in series-deciding encounters.

Since 2020, Virat Kohli’s record in ODI series deciders has improved further. He has played five such matches in this period, scoring three fifties, including an unbeaten 65 against South Africa in Vizag in 2025. Notably, India has lost only one of these five deciders, underlining Kohli’s impact on results. Even in defeat, such as the 2023 series decider against Australia, his fifty stood out as a fighting effort.

Overall, Virat Kohli’s record in ODI series deciders reflects a batter who has evolved into a big-match player. With 660 runs in 15 innings and a strong average, Kohli remains a key figure whenever India faces a series on the line.

Virat Kohli’s scores in ODI Series Decider

65* v SA (Vizag, 2025)54 v AUS (Chennai, 2023)17 v ENG (Manchester, 2022)7 v ENG (Pune, 2021)89 v AUS (Bengaluru, 2020)85 v WI (Cuttack, 2019)20 v AUS (Delhi, 2019)46 v AUS (Melbourne, 2019)71 v ENG (Leeds, 2018)113 v NZ (Kanpur, 2017)65 v NZ (Vizag, 2016)7 v SA (Wankhede, 2015)19 v WI (Kanpur, 2013)0 v AUS (Bengaluru, 2013)2 v SA (Centurion, 2011)

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